The rumors have been flying in regards to the Los Angeles Lakers and a potential trade of Dwight Howard away from the team before the February trade deadline. According to Hoops Vibeon Jan. 17, 2013, LA Lakers Legend Magic Johnson believes that the Lakers should be looking to deal Howard rather than shopping Pau Gasol.

During an NBA pregame show this week Johnson made the following comments in regards to calling for the Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to push for a move to acquire Howard before he has the chance to shop himself on the open market in the summer:

If I'm Mark Cuban, I would say this, I would call Jim Buss and say look, 'I've always wanted Dwight Howard. Can we make a deal before the trade deadline?'"Because you know once the summer comes, Mark is going to go after him anyway. But if he gets him in a trade, he can pay him more money and maybe he'll stay.Because Atlanta's going to try and get Dwight Howard. I think New Jersey's going to be in play and and try to get him so Mark Cuban, go after him! And give away everyone but Dirk. That's what I would do.

Johnson was correct that Atlanta are expected to be in the mix as rumors surface on Jan. 18, 2013, that Howard's hometown club are looking to make a deal that would include recent club outcast Josh Smith and other additional pieces for the Atlanta born forward.Additionally the belief that the Brooklyn Nets could make a move for the player as Bleacher Report journalist Jacob Keimach speculated that a deal that sends both Dwight Howard and Antawn Jamison to the Nets for Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, C.J. Watson and a first-round draft pick.There is still a month left before anything happens but expect there to be much more said about Dwight Howard in the coming weeks.

As a franchise you do everything you can to keep Dwight. Superstar centers are so rare, in fact there's only 1 in this league and 1 potential one in Anthony Davis, there is no way you give him up unless you're certain he will walk.

How is Magic so bad at everything basketball-related aside from playing the game? ESPN's greatest mouthpiece. He could say something completely ridiculous and horribly stupid and that panel of halftime suck-ups would just nod in agreement because he's Magic Johnson.

How is Magic so bad at everything basketball-related aside from playing the game? ESPN's greatest mouthpiece. He could say something completely ridiculous and horribly stupid and that panel of halftime suck-ups would just nod in agreement because he's Magic Johnson.

Probably just wants attention, like most of the sports media. I'm actually incredibly disappointed at the intelligence level of the basketball-related media in general, aside from a few people like Pincus and Woj. There are many people on this board I know who could be much smarter analysts than anyone on ESPN or whatever.